Unfortunate Stretch for Ajit Agarkar Seven Ducks and a Century at Lord’s in Test Career
Getting dismissed for a duck in cricket is a frustrating experience for any batsman. Ajit Agarkar, a former Indian cricketer and current BCCI selector, unfortunately encountered a particularly challenging stretch in his Test career where he was dismissed for a duck a staggering seven times in a row.
Agarkar’s streak of misfortune began at the Adelaide Oval in Australia during India tour of Australia 1999. In the second innings, after scoring 19 runs in the first, he was dismissed for a golden duck by Damien Fleming, who caught him in the gully region.
This pattern continued in the following Test matches at Melbourne and Sydney. Both matches resulted in defeats for India, handing Australia a comfortable series win.
The tour then shifted to India for a three-match series. Agarkar only featured in the first Test at the Wankhede Stadium. He was dismissed twice: first for a 12-ball duck by Shane Warne and then for a 16-ball duck by Steve Waugh in the second innings.
Finally, a glimmer of hope arrived during the Brisbane Test in India’s 2003-04 tour of Australia. Agarkar faced his demons and managed to score a single off a full toss he heaved towards long on.
In a humorous display of relief, he celebrated as if he had scored a fifty. This single run, however, broke the streak of seven consecutive ducks, the first of which was a golden duck.
While India lost the series, this single was a significant moment for Agarkar. It’s important to remember that despite this challenging stretch, Agarkar possesses genuine batting talent.
He even has a Test century to his name, achieved at Lord’s Cricket Ground – a feat that neither Sachin Tendulkar nor Virat Kohli have accomplished. This incident highlights the unpredictable nature of cricket, where even talented players can experience periods of struggle.
Agarkar’s Test career spanned 26 matches, during which he claimed 58 wickets. While his Test career may not have been lengthy, his unique record of seven consecutive ducks alongside his outstanding century at Lord’s will ensure he remains a memorable figure in Indian cricket history.
